European Commission supports tuna ban

BRUSSELS, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The European Commission called Wednesday for a ban on catching one of the world's most overfished species, Atlantic bluefin tuna.

The plan for a temporary suspension of international sales of the tuna would be presented to member states, the EU Observer reported. The EU would co-sponsor the listing of tuna under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species along with Monaco, the tiny Mediterranean principality, which is not an EU member.

Environmentalists hailed the vote, while saying the European Union's plan to protect tuna is late, the report said.

"Bluefin tuna has become endangered because of disgraceful fisheries management in the EU. The suspension of trade is a last resort and it merely buys the EU time to put its fisheries management in order," said Saskia Richartz, a marine affairs specialist with Greenpeace.

Stavros Dimas, the environmental commissioner, called bluefin tuna "one of the ocean's most emblematic creatures." Bluefin tuna, prized for sushi, fetches high prices in Japan.